THE trial of a man accused of abducting a woman and her young son before raping the woman has heard how the child appeared scared when found wandering on the street by a taxi driver.

The 42 year old accused has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of sexual assault, two counts of rape with a make-up pen, attempted vaginal and anal rape, oral rape and aggravated sexual assault between February 12 and 13, 2010 in Dublin.

He also denies child abduction, threats to kill or cause serious harm, false imprisonment, stealing a bank card and stealing cash from two ATMs.

Taxi driver Emmet Colgan told Tony McGillycuddy BL, prosecuting, that he saw a little boy who looked around five years old walking along the Luas line near Smithfield Market Square. He said he stopped his car and asked the child where his mother was.

The man said the boy didn't appear to be hurt but he looked scared. He then stopped a couple who agreed to accompany Mr Colgan and the child to the nearby Bridewell Garda Station.

Garda Ailbhe Byrne told the court that when she saw the child was not Irish she asked a garda who spoke the same language as the child to speak to the boy.

This garda told the court that it took him a while to find out the boy's name and eventually they were able to bring him to his home and reunite him with his father.

Inspector Jeremiah Barrett said the boy's father gave them a photograph of the mother and gardai began searching for the woman.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.